Opinions: Cooper 25-06 Ackley Improved Range Report

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Finely had some time to test the .25-06 AI Cooper Excaliber with 26" Barrel. Your opinions are wanted in helping determine a good OCW load.

Ladder Test.
Components:
- 115 Grain Bergers (.05 off lands),
- Lapua 30-06 Fire formed brass,
- CCI BR2 Primers,
- Reloader 22, and
- IMR 7828sc.

Conditions:
- 15-18 Deg,
- Mild right to left wind,
- 300 yards,
- busy range.

1st Target at 300yrds with IMR 7828sc:

IMG_0003-1.jpg


I was thinking for Target 1 / 7828sc would be best to look around the 59.1 - 59.4 range.

2nd Target at 300yrds with R22:

IMG_0002-1.jpg


For Target 2 / R22 would be around 58.5 - 58.8 range.

300yrd was a little close as the targets are pretty clustered, I went .050 off lands as the prior tests with R22 showed it to be the most accurate with .010 off coming in second.

Quickload shows I can go about another grain or so up in powder charge for both powders but I was just starting to see pressure signs at 60grs, and with more then enough velocity call it my Max.

What do you guys think?
 
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I would really like to see what your velocities are. I am shooting 120gr SGK jammed; over 53.5 gr of RL22 out of my Cooper M22 26" barrel, 25-06AI. This is 1gr under the max in my Sierra manual and gives me 3150fps which is exactly what the manual predicts. I know this is not even approaching max pressure as there is no primer flattening at all. This load consistently shoots .4's at 100yds and best to date at 200 is 1.1.
I think you evaluation is right on. I would be trying the Bergers jammed. My groups shrank by 50% when I went from .010" off to the jammed ones and my velocity went up 50fps with exactly the same charge.

Good shooting and excellent choice of rifle and caliber IMHO ;)
 
Thanks Cummins4x4 Coopers are top notch and have spoiled me as I look down at my other rifles now ;)

Velocities are posted on the targets, this Barrel is pretty fast which I believe has to do with treating it with Gunjuice when new. These loads are at the top level as indicated mostly by the velocity, as even at 60 grains pressure signs are minimal.

I will eventually try jamming the Bergers but wanted to find a good load with them off the lands for Hunting. I have a great fire forming load with both Nosler 115grs (.010 off the lands), and the 115gr Bergers (.050 off) with 52grs R22 at 2950fps. So I know the accuracy is there at slower speeds, hopefully I can find some at the upper level.
 
If you don't mind me asking, what type of Cooper are you shooting? I don't know a lot about Coopers-I am intrigued, but it seems to me 25/06 and the AI is the one caliber that's in the M22 and the M52?
Meaning you Cooper could be many different 'Models'?
Also, where do you get one? I've checked with WSS but they were telling me to order is up to three years. The few I saw there looked impressive though. :)
 
Know what you mean about Coopers spoiling you:redface:
I haven' tried working up to a max load yet mostly because this one shoots so well. The velocities you are getting are faster than the published velocities for the 257Wby!! I have just used mine for targets so far but plan on using it for yotes this winter. I'd be interested in seeing the accuracy difference (if any) between my heavy barrel and your sporter. Keep us posted on your load developement.
 
Cummins4x4 said:
Check with Clay at Phrophet River, site sponsor, for the Coopers. Styled is shooting the M52 Excalibur, I am shooting the M22 Varmint.
Click to expand...

Holy crap. I just bough a Citori from them. Maybe get a deal!! ;) Thanks for the info.
When I was a lurker, I saw your M22 in 25/06 AI but had no idea that they were evwen available in an excalibur in Canada.
 
Mudpherson, the rifle is a Cooper M52 Excalibur with a 26" flutted barrel. I bought this rifle from Prophet River Firearms out of Lloydminster, and last I seen have a good supply of them, service was top notch as well. This is my review when I first got the rifle: http://www.canadiangunnutz.com/forum/showthread.php?t=314922

Cummins4x4 I noticed velocity is above published data for a .257WeaMag, Quickload says these loads are just under 60,000PSI and the lack of pressure signs corroborates that to a degree. Having said that Velocity comes with added pressure, so the Gunjuice may be working as advertised.
 
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Yeah case head measured at widest point to .471 after fire forming and .471 all the way up to 60 grains. xx-06 case spec is .470 but I am already seeing .471 at very low loads so I gather the chamber is .001 large in that area. What are you seeing in your measurements?
 
Thanks for all the info guys. I'm a sucker for a wood stocked rifle so maybe I'll get it in a classic but the excalibur sure looks nice on the Cooper site. Does the spiral bolt flutes help the bolt slide smooth or is it just esthetics and weight saving?
 
Is that good for a cooper? only long range group I ever did was 2 1/4 hor x 1 1/2 vert. inches for 5 shots at 500 meters with a win 70 action , douglas barrel, in 7 mag..not really a load work up, just picked a power that would work with 168's...
 
Ladder test looks like it likes RL22 (7828 looks consistently mediocre) and it looks like you should try at 57 grains and work up from there. Best nodes seem to be 58.5 and 58.8, but since those were your minimum loads, I'd love to see what it does with a bit less powder. That's probably a good thing as that round will be tough on barrels on a good day.

A Sierra 117 or a Hornady 110 might be a good option as they are far more seating depth tolerant. Looks like it has real promise!!
 
Thanks Obtunded I'll drop down to the 57gr area and work back up to see how she preforms. I'm going to see if I can get the Bergers to fly as I have about 300 left to burn. The Nosler 115gr BT's showed real promise when I was fire forming, and the test target that came with the rifle had 3 120gr Sierra's in one hole.

Mudpherson: spiral bolt flutes don't save much weight in a rifle like this but I can say the action is silky smooth because of tight tolerances. I think the fluting may help in the field with dirt/grim but for the most part are for looks.

Levi Garrett: Good for a Cooper? I don't think its the best performance that this rifle is capable of, it's just load testing at this point with these particular components. What I am impressed with is the fact that this rifle shoots to the same POA for a Clean Cold Bore shot, and those that follow, which is great for an extended range hunting rifle.
 
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